Daraine Luton, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

Cipton Wilson is being assisted in the use of computer software by Annie White, administrator of the Youth Empowerment Programme at a church-run community outreach skills facility in Trench Town. Wilson lost his left leg last year after he was shot by gunmen in his community. - Colin Hamilton/ Freelance Photographer

Twenty-year-old Cipton Wilson sits in the midst of a group of young adults beneath a tent on the premises of what used to be the Ambassador Theatre in Trench Town, south St. Andrew.

Cipton's strides through life were cut drastically when he lost his left leg after being shot at his Rema home by gunmen last April.

Now he can no longer play football and achieve the goal of playing at the least, in the National Premier League. but Cipton is taking time to acquire various life skills. He is determined not to allow his situation to get the better of him.

With a pair of metal crutches at his side, Cipton gently uses his fingers to massage a mound of clay on a table.

Along with the other young men, Cipton is taking instructions from chief potter Daniel Gordon. He is learning ceramics and within months, he hopes to add that trade, along with leathercraft and desktop publishing, to his curriculum vitae as special skills.

Three years ago, Cipton left the Dunoon Technical High School armed with knowledge of auto mechanics. Today, he has his sights set on learning about computers, particularly desktop publishing.

inner-city snapshot

In fact, Cipton has always wanted to learn computing. After leaving school, he was preparing for training through the HEART Trust/NTA, the state-run technical and vocational training agency. But on the day he was completing the application form, he was shot.

Cipton's story is a snapshot of how life in inner-city communities like Trench Town can be cruel, especially if you choose not to get involved.

"April 20 last year, some vibes did a gwaan an mi did a full out a form fi go a Boys' Town HEART (Centre)," Cipton recalls of the day he was shot by criminals who had accused him of liaising with their enemies.

The police became involved and Cipton says his mother was accused of being an informer. Because of this, the area thugs insisted that a gate to Cipton's house be removed. He did not resist this demand.

"Mi know seh a piece a old board that so mi nuh pay it nuh mind. Mi just go upstairs to fill out di form.

"As mi done fill out di form and reach down stairs to carry it to Boys' Town, mi si a bag of them coming. One of them (men who shot him) seh to mi 'how yuh a move suh?'

"Once them seh dat mi know a gun them think mi have," Cipton relates.

Lifting his shirt to show the huge scar left on his abdomen due to the medical operation, Cipton says he practically removed his shirt to show the men he was unharmed. However, he was still shot.

"Mi deh a hospital and them (doctors) neva find di shot and after about a week them seh it (the leg) have to cut off because a copper shot.

"A man dem weh mi know an mi nuh do dem nothing fi them shot mi," says Cipton, who adds he has never involved himself in wrongdoing.

"Mi grow wid my mother and father and mi neva si my father a walk wid nuh bad man or hear seh him a walk wid nuh gun.

"Mi nuh in di gun thing. If my father did in dat, mi wouldn't born. My father is 38 (years old) and if him did chuck badness, him wouldn't live fi see me big. A nuff time my father sit dung and bawl (because) of this," Cipton says in a low voice.

promising striker

A promising striker, Cipton played football for Charlie Smith Comprehensive High school at the Pepsi Under-14 and Colt's and Under-16 level. The Manning Cup beckoned, but violence in Arnett Gardens, where Charlie Smith is located, forced his mother to transfer him to the Dunoon Technical High School.

At Dunoon, Cipton studied auto mechanics and after leaving, he headed for downtown Kingston where he sold in his godmother's establishment. During that time, he says, many youngsters with whom he played football turned to the gun for answers. Some, he says, have been killed, others jailed and a few are senselessly living dangerously. He believes this does not have to happen.

"Don't tek up nuh gun. Mek it stay weh it deh. If yuh have di age, go a school, or get inna a training centre and guh learn a trade," Cipton advises. "Things in the ghetto is tough but yuh can mek it in life if yuh try hard enough," he says before swinging off on his crutches to demonstrate what he has learnt so far in computing.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com.